Photo Flash: Chanticleers Theater Goes Spooky with THE ADDAMS FAMILY

A magnificently macabre musical comedy, The Addams Family: A New Musical Comedy will open on October 6, 2017 at Chanticleers Theatre in Castro Valley. The show was created by an award-winning team that includes authors Marshall Brickman and Rick Elice (Jersey Boys), composer-lyricist Andrew Lippa (The Wild Party). Directed by Chanticleers Theatre's Artistic Director, John Baiocchi, the production promises to delight audiences with humor, an original story, song and dance, and all your favorite Addams Family characters.

In the kooky, upside-down world of the Addams Family, a grave crisis is brewing. It is every father's worst nightmare but in reverse. Daughter Wednesday, the ultimate Princess of Darkness, has grown up and fallen in love with a "normal" young man, Lucas Beineke, from a quite respectable Ohio family-not even remotely fiendish! Worse, the romance seems to have turned the steadfastly gloomy Addams girl downright cheery, leaving her family very worried and distressed. Comic chaos reigns when they host a dinner for Wednesday's new boyfriend and his parents so they can become better acquainted with the entire Addams family.

Chanticleers' production stars many well-known Bay Area actors: Rhonda Joy Taylor as Morticia, the vampiric matriarch of the Addams clan; Roger Caetano as Gomez, her devoted husband; Chloe Angst as Wednesday; Riley Hyde as Pugsley; C. Conrad Cady as Uncle Fester; Sarah Simmerman as Grandma, Darien Cabreana as Lurch, Johnny Orenberg as Lucas and Matthew and Judy Beall as his "normal" parents.

A band of spirited ancestors from diverse past generations also haunt the scenes. Their singing and dancing, like that of the main characters, is a special treat, brought to the stage under the expert direction of two noted Bay Area theater professionals: music director, Luis Zuniga and choreographer Todd Aragon. The ancestors include: Taylor Hendricks, Donovan Napoli, Kenny Silberberg, Jordana Meltzer, Jennifer Willis, Madelynn Crimi and Francesca Cipponeri

The Addams Family, a New Musical Comedy opens with Chanticleers' traditional complimentary hors d'oeuvres, desserts and beverage gala on October 6 and runs through November 5. Curtain time for Friday and Saturday evening shows is 8:00 pm and Sunday matinees start at 2:00 pm (no show on October 8). General admission is $25; admission for Seniors (60+)/Students/Military is $20. On Bargain Night, October 7, all tickets are $18. The Chanticleers Theatre FlexPass (gives you four tickets to use anytime during the season) is $85 general and $68 seniors/students/military. Chanticleers Theatre is located within the Castro Valley Community Park at 3683 Quail Avenue, Castro Valley. Call 510-SEE-LIVE (733-5483) or go to chanticleers.org for reservations/tickets.

Photos courtesy of Chanticleers Theater

C. Conrad Cady, Sarah Simmerman

C. Conrad Cady

Rhonda Joy Taylor and Roger Caetano

Riley Hyde, Darien Cabreana, Chloe Angst, Rhonda Joy Taylor, Roger Caetano, Sarah Simmerman, C. Conrad Cady

Riley Hyde, Sarah Simmerman, Chloe Angst, Rhonda Joy Taylor, Roger Caetano, C. Conrad Cady, Darien Cabreana